Obituary of Berdella D. Drabent

Berdella D. Drabent, age 82, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Comforted by her four daughters, her wish was to be home, where she was content and happiest.
She was born December 21, 1940, at the Dillenback Homestead, daughter to the late Elmer and Bessie
(Ambridge) Dillenback. Growing up in the rural Canajoharie area, she shared many memories of the fun
times of her youth with her children. A graduate of the Canajoharie Class of 1957, she was referred to as
the “young one”, an avid athlete and liked by all. She went on to work at Central National Bank (now
NBT Bank).
Berdie fell in love with and married Robert (Bob) Drabent. A shared and devoted union of 35+years until
his passing in 1999. Berdie assisted her husband and took pride in the family business, Drabent’s
Seafood, which distributed clams to many businesses in the Central NY area with a known reputation of
quality and fresh seafood. In her later years, she operated Drabent Apartments. “She ran a tight ship”!
Berdie had a love for baseball and often shared the story of attending a Yankees game with her dear
friend “Duffy” only to be removed from the stadium after throwing peanuts at Mickey Mantle! It was
the love of baseball and her own athletic prowess that shined when she played softball at Canajoharie
HS; once hitting a softball over what is now the NYS Thruway. She loved to watch sports and had her
favorite teams/players; for golf- Jordan Spieth, football- the Buffalo Bills/Josh Allen, and basketball-
Syracuse Orangemen. She was a fan of Survivor, the Bachelor/-ette and many game shows. She always
knew many of the answers but didn’t let on that she had seen the episode already! Berdie was a great
cook, known for her organized and top shelf holiday dinners. She took great pride in making Christmas
cookies to share with family, friends and business associates. Everyone enjoyed them.
Surviving family members are her cherished four daughters; Jackie (Dale) Schumacher, Carol (Jim)
Woodrick, Barbara (Pat) LaPorte, and Nancy (Jim) Wallace; her grandchildren Jeff Schumacher, Jenna
Schumacher and fiancé Taylor Mulvey, Kelsey Woodrick and Mario, Karly (Jeff) Byrd, Kaylyn (Tommy)
Amuso, Kathryn Woodrick and Kyle, Adam LaPorte and Katelyn, Grace LaPorte and Jason; her great
grandchild Emma Cecilia Byrd, who put a smile on her face last November. Also surviving are one sister
Arlene Houghtaling and brother Wally Dillenback and brother-in-law David Hansen, along with many
nieces, nephews and cousins. Her closest friends, Duffy Evans, Barb Kubecka, Donna and Jim Markey,
Ellen and Vete Wiernicki, Eleanor Karpowich, and Theresa Shumlansky will surely miss Berdie. She was
predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents, sister Emily Hansen, brother-in-law Bill Houghtaling,
sister-in-law Joyce Dillenback and sister/brother-in law, Jackie and Jim Spanfelner.
Her family would like to express our deepest thanks to the staff at St. Luke’s Hospital, and hospice for
their care and compassion given to Mom. In addition, our thanks to Mom’s doctors, Deepak Buch and
Alicia DeTraglia whom she valued and trusted deeply.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Hospice and Palliative Care (New Hartford, NY),
Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or MOVAC.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 4-7 pm at the V.J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home 203 Second Ave. Frankfort. Funeral services will be Friday, April 14, 2023 at 10:30 am at St. Francis de Sales Church were her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer.